Method and means for indicating the maximum flow of fluids.



A. P. LITTLE.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR INDICATING THE MAXIMUM FLOW 0F FLUIDS. APPLICATION'FILED MAY5.1917.

1,289,486. Patented De@.31,1918.

WITNESSES INVENTOR l YUNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

ARLINGTON P. LITTLE. OF WASHINGTON. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR INDICATING THE MAXIMUM FLOW 0F FLUIDS.

le it known that l, AaLINo'rox l. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of (olunibia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Means for Indieating the Maximum Flow of Fluids. of which the 'following is a specification.

Mv invention relates to maximum demand or How indicating meters in whicha differ ential pressure due to the flow of a fluid eauses the displacement of a liquid (contained in what t'or the purposes of this speeitimition I call the indicating devioe.), a portion ot' `which becomes entrapped in an indicating or index tube; the object of my invention is to obtain an instrument which will indicate the maximum rate of flow of a llui'd such as water,l gas, during any period ot' time.

'l`hroughont thesespecifica'tions, the term fluid refers to the fluid whose'maximum rate of flow is to be indicated by the meter1 and the term liquid refers to the liquid contained in the indicating device.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate two forms of mv invention, similar numerals refer to'similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of one form of my invention in which the differential pressure due to the flow of a fluid is transmitted directli7 to the liquid in the indicating device.

In Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive I illustrate a form otl my demand meter as I prefer to construct it wherein the differential pressure due to the flow ot' a fluid acts on a movable vane, the movement of' said vane causing a tilting or rotating action to be imparted to the indieating device. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of this form of meter with a portion of the l'ront of case and of the partition cut away. Fig. 3 shows a section through the oil gage at the line e--rl of Fig. 2. Fig. l is anl'elevation of the rear bearing. Fig.. 5 shows a vertical section through the meter atthe line. f/--i of Fig. Fig. 6 shows a vertical section through front bearing and front bearing cover cut away at the line c-f ol' Fig. hearing eoveiand keyway. Fig. 8 is a detail front view of the front bearlng cover.

ln Fig. 1. 1G is the inlet and 30 is the outlet. of a. passage through which the fluid Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 7 is a front view of front 'mit the.

atented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed May 5. 1917. Serial No. 166.600.

flows whose maximum rate of flow` is to be measured. The passage here shown is a eonieal Atube commonly known as a Venturi tube having a throat. or portion of relativel5l simili diameter. at- 72. As is well known a fluid flowing through such`a passage will cause a dilferenee in pressure to be set up between the throat and portions of larger sectional aret. into the Venturi tube. lt-SO serves to trans pressure existing at the large end of the Venturi tube to the vessel or chamber 64 and thence to the liquid (i6. Similarly, the" tube 70 serves to transmitthe pressure exist!4` 70 '(39.` When a fluid, such as a gas flows ing at the point Qto the vessel or chamber through the passagel lf3-30, the pressure transmitted by the tube 71 willjexeeed that. transmitted b v. the tube 70. andftheret'oro the liquid '(30 will tend to flow through theA restricted passage 9 (in the illustration a porousI plug is shown) intothe vessel 69 until the pressure on the surface. 65 ofthe liquid in the vesselG-l is equal to the combined pressure. on the surface of theliquid in the vessel 69 plus thatv produced by the difference in level of' the upper surfaces of the liquids in the vessels 64 and 69. If said flow continues after the vessel 69 has been filled to they level of the shoulder G8. it is evident. that the excess liquid entering this vessel will overflow at the shoulder (3S int-o the lindex ltube Q3 and become entrapped therein as at 28, and the extent ofsuch'overflow may be measured in convenient unit-s or steps b v means ofthe scale Q2. The. more rapid the flowfo'f fluid through the passage lf3-30 the greater will be the difference in pressure between the vessels- 6,4 and 69 and therefore. the amount of liquid over-flowing into the index tube will be greater if said differences in pressure are continued for equal lengths of time. The height of the liquid in the, index tube 23 will therefore be proportional (though not necessarily directly) to the. rate of flowT of the, fluid continued over a period of time.

The meter may be reset by revolving the meter counter-clockwise through slightl)T more than 90. that is. until the closed end of the index tube .23 is higher than its open end. The. liquid in the index tuhe will then How by gravitvv tirst to fill the vessel (it) and the surplus will pass through the tuhe G7 into the chamber Gl through the. opening 73.

The tube 7:2 which opensv y attached to the shaft 3 and when a fiuid flows through the rear chamber said vane and shaft are thereby given a limited angular motion in a vertical plane at right angles f to the axis of said shaft, the extent of such motion depending upon the rate of ow of said fluid.4 Attached to the shaft 3 by screw 4 is the vertical clamp or` band 10 which serve'sto secure the tube 8 in position with respect to the shaft 3. The horizontal band or clamp 2 is attached to the vertical clamp 10 and holds the vessel 1 in a definitel position with respect to the shaft 3. The screw 12 serves to` 'clamp the horizontal band firmly around the vessel 1. The index tube 23 is closedl at its lower end and at its upper end opens into they vessel 1. The tube 8 having the restricted passage 9 connects vesA sel 1 withthe tube 6, and the tube 42 joins the tube .6v with the 'indexl tube 23./16 is the inlet tothe rear chamber 0r passage A24 and 30 the outlet from said chamber or pas` sage. 20 is the top cover of the rear chamber 24. 41 is the top cover of the front chamber 19. 14 and 25 are lugs which may be used to secure the instrument in properl position by means of screws passing through the holes 15, 15.

The upper end of the scale 22 .is bent back and said end is secured to the shaft 3 by means of the screw 4. The upper clip 21 and lower clip -31 serive to hld firmly together the scale l2,2 and 'index tube 23.

The indicating device is partly filled with a suitable liquid, the overfiow of which into the index tube 23 under conditions hereinafter described, serves to indicate the maximum fiow of fluid through thefmeter.y The motion of the vane 27 (caused by the flow of fluid through the rear chamber 24) is transmitted' to the shaft 3 and thus tothe indicating device consisting of parts 1, 6, 8,

23, and. 42. This motion serves to lift the level of the liquid in vessel 1 above the level of the liquid in vessel 6 and 'therefore the liquid in vessel 1 tends to flow throughthe` restricted passage 9 into the vessel or en',

After vessel 6 has becomeA filled with liquid through' this operation, any further flow into said vessel 6 will cause an overflow over the bend or shoulder 7 into the tube 42 and thence into the index tube 23 where it becomesentrapped. 28 repre-V sents such entrapped liquid.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, along the line c-d of Fig. l, ofan oil ygage ortrap. 33'

is the transparent lining of the oil basin 34 is the front window or opening and 39 the rear window or opening, 40 is a hole;

connecting lthe oil basin 38 with the tip 36,55 Y

any oil contained in said.

through which basin 38 would flow on opening the cock 37. The object of the oil basin or trap -38 is to drain out and collect any condensatewhich might form in the rear chamber 49, when said meter was used in connection with some 1n the proper position with respect to the kmeter case and to permit rotation of said shaft. The nut 44 serves to clamp rear bearing 45 in position. The projection 43 lonyth'e rear Wall of the meter case serves to protect the rear bearing. The space 46 in "said rprojection may be filled with some substance such as wax for the purpose of sealing the rear bearing after adjustment. 49 is the rear wall of the rear chamber 24, and20 is the top cover of this chamber. 41 is the top cover ofthe ront'chamber 19.

VThe object of the washer 50 is to prevent an excessive flow of gas from the rear chamber 24 to thefront chamber 19 through the opening in the partition 60 through which the shaft 3 passes. The radial pin 51 projects from the shaft 3. The horizontally projecting pin 35 and the radial pin 62 are secured to the front bearing 52. On rotating the front bearing 52 in a counter-clock- 4wise direction the pin 35 engages pin 51 and further vcounter-clockwise rotation of said bearing will cause the shaft and all parts attached thereto to rotate, which movement is of service` in resetting the instrument. They pin/63 is' secured to the front of the instrument case 1,3 and the piny 62 projects radially from the front bearing 52.' When the front bearing is rotated counter-clockwise through a definite angle the pin 62 will engage pin 63 and prevent further. rotation of the front bearing in that direction.

Fig. 7 is a front View on the front bearing, the bearing cover 54 being cut away on the line e-f of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 isa section through the front bearingand aportion of the meter cover on the line h-fi ofrFig.7. In Figs and 7, 13 is .the front cover of the meter, 52 is the front bearing, 53. a gasket which prevents leakage of gas around said bearing, 54 the front casing-of bearing, 55 islfthe front end of the los front bearing, 57 is a nut capable of rotating on that portion of the front bearing which projects through the front of meter casing. 56 is a clamp nut to secure nut 57 in position and 58 is the cone bore of front bearing into which the. front end of shaft 3 is placed and in which it may rotate freely.

In Fig. 8, which is a front view of the front bearing cover 54, 61 is the keyway into which a suitable key may be inserted and engage the end of the front bearing projection 55. Rotation of said key in a counter-clockwise direction will cause rotation of front bearing and said key would ordinarily be used when it was desired to reset the meter. y

In carrying my invention into effect I may employ, either as al part of the meter or external thereto, the Venturi tube or partitioned chamber herein specifically described or any other passage or device suitable for the purpose. The flow of the fluid may be confined Wholly or partly to such passages or such flow may be relatively unconfned as wind, stream of water. The differential pressure incident to such flow may be caused to act directly on the surface of the'liquid in the indicating device of the meter or said pressure may be transmitted to the indicating device by any known means.

For the purpose of causing a time lag in indicating the rate of flow in excess of a previously indicated rate of flow and to limit the indication to a rate of flow maintained more or less continuouslv during an interval of time such as 10 seconds, 30 minutes, I employ a restricted, )assage (such as a capillary tube, minute ori ce, porous plug, porous diaphragm), that is, a passage offering a relativel highresistance to the flow of the liquid rom one vessel to the other, under Athe normal conditions of operation of' the meter.

In connection with my invention I may, when desired, employ any known means for compensating for temperature error, of shielding the instrument from variations of temperature` and I may employ any known means of preventing the liquid in the indieating device. from cvaporating. I may also provide any known moans for compensating for evaporation of this liquid and for preventing it from absorbing foreign mattei'.

lVhat I claim is* 1. An indicator of the character described, lomprising two vessels containing a liquid, aid vessels being 'connected by a flow-rericting passage; a channel or passage irough which thc fluid Hows whose maxi"- um rate of flow is to be indicated, said flow using a diflerential pressure in operative lation to said vessels. which causes a move- EST AVAILABLE COr ment of liquid through said flow-restricting passage, an indicating tube connected to said vessels, and means acted upon by the said differential pressure to elevate one of said vessels with respect to the other.

2. An indicator ofthe character described, comprisin two vessels containing a liquid, said vesse s being connected by a flow-restricting passage, a channel or passage through which the fluid flows whose maximum rate of flow is to be indicated, said flow causing a differential pressure which causes a movement of liquid through said flow-restricting passage, means acted upon by said differentialpressure to elevate one of said vessels with respect to the other, and a receptacle to receive the overflow of liquid from the lower vessel, substantially as described.

3. An indicator of the character described, comprising two vessels containing a liquid and connected by a flow-restricting passage, a passage through which a fluid flows, said flow resulting 1n a differential pressure, means acted upon by said differential pressure to cause movement of liquid from one vessel to the other vessel through said flowrestricting passage, a receptacle to receive overflow from the latter vessel and a tubeconnecting said overflow receptacle to the first of the vessels, substantially as described.

- 4. An indicator of the character described, comprising two vessels containing a liquid, said vessels being connected by a flow-restricting passage and one of said vessels being adapted to overflow, a passage through which the fluid flows whose maximum rate of flow is to be indicated, said flow producing a differential pressure, means acted upon by said differential pressure to cause a movement of liquid through said flow-restricting passage, a receptacle to receive said overflow from one of said vessels, a tube connecting said overflow receptacle to the other of the vessels, a support for the vessels and tubes and a casing or box to which the support is pivoted, substantially as described.

5. In a maximum flow indicating device, the combination of a conduit for the flow of .fluid to be measured, having means therein for' receiving differential pressures of the said fluid, means acted upon by said pressure receiving means, means for holding a supply of decantable fluid under direct control of the differential pressure through the receiving means, and an indicating tube in communication with said holding means to receive and entrap decantable flu1d from the holding means.

ARLINGTON P. LITTLE. 

